Sunday's letters: An urban mess

Published: Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 14, 2014 at 4:02 p.m.

To the editor: Four Seasons Boulevard is a lovely name for an ugly, unsafe road. I live close by and see it nearly every time I drive anywhere. You know how it is: faded lane lines, tangles of traffic lights, uncoordinated signs. And it’s a nightmare for pedestrians — no sidewalks at all, and almost no pedestrian crossings.

There’s a legend about visitors from up north who heard that Hendersonville was a charming Southern town, one of the best places in the country to retire. They turned off Interstate 26 onto Four Seasons Boulevard, took one look down into the urban mess we tolerate, and said, “Not for us.” They never came within a mile of our pretty Main Street.

Is Four Seasons ugly because it’s a U.S. highway? Is it cluttered because almost every store is part of a different national chain that dictates its appearance? Does this unsightly “boulevard” stem from a lack of cooperation and planning?

I don’t know who’s in charge, but to me this is more important than reviving Seventh Avenue or the south end of Main Street. Who is responsible for Four Seasons Boulevard? Can the people who care, including its business owners, work together to make things better?

Pat Wakeley

Hendersonville

Pushing agendas

To the editor: I’m writing in reply to Paul Aaron’s “Citizens United” letter in last Sunday’s Times-News. Mr. Aaron said, basically, that corporate political spending was good for democracy because “more information is better.”

While I agree that more information is better, that is not what political groups like Citizens United do. They spend their money in blatant attempts to distort facts to favor their side.

And every single one of these groups has an agenda.

More than $6 million dollars has already been spent by these groups from outside the state in an effort to defeat Kay Hagan. They are not presenting “facts” about Kay Hagan, but are doing their best to turn the electorate against her.

Do we really need outside groups spending millions to tell us what to think?

His comparison of outside election spending and lobbying is not valid. Lobbyists are trying to persuade elected officials to vote their way on legislation. Outside spending groups are trying to sway our votes that put those elected officials in office. Not the same thing.

Carole Repici

Hendersonville

State deductions

To the editor: I was having my taxes done for 2013, and my accountant stated that for 2014 there will be only three deductions for state income taxes, and they are home mortgage interest, charity and real estate taxes. There will be no other deductions such as medical, child care, plus all the deductions.

I just want everybody to be aware of what’s happening.

John Thomas

Etowah

Go unaffiliated

To the editor: There are no intriguing statewide Democratic primaries this May and, because of the GOP’s extreme and undemocratic gerrymandering,

Mark Meadows will retain his U.S. House District 11 seat in November. Democrat Kay Hagan will clearly win the U.S. Senate primary but just might get beaten by the Koch brothers’ limitless money in the general election

If you’re invested in a local Democratic primary, great, but other Democrats can decide to change their registration to unaffiliated right away, grab a GOP ballot in May, and vote for the goofiest, certain to lose, tea party rival for Hagan.

<p>To the editor: Four Seasons Boulevard is a lovely name for an ugly, unsafe road. I live close by and see it nearly every time I drive anywhere. You know how it is: faded lane lines, tangles of traffic lights, uncoordinated signs. And it's a nightmare for pedestrians — no sidewalks at all, and almost no pedestrian crossings.</p><p>There's a legend about visitors from up north who heard that Hendersonville was a charming Southern town, one of the best places in the country to retire. They turned off Interstate 26 onto Four Seasons Boulevard, took one look down into the urban mess we tolerate, and said, “Not for us.” They never came within a mile of our pretty Main Street.</p><p>Is Four Seasons ugly because it's a U.S. highway? Is it cluttered because almost every store is part of a different national chain that dictates its appearance? Does this unsightly “boulevard” stem from a lack of cooperation and planning?</p><p>I don't know who's in charge, but to me this is more important than reviving Seventh Avenue or the south end of Main Street. Who is responsible for Four Seasons Boulevard? Can the people who care, including its business owners, work together to make things better?</p><p><em>Pat Wakeley</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Pushing agendas</h3>
<p>To the editor: I'm writing in reply to Paul Aaron's “Citizens United” letter in last Sunday's Times-News. Mr. Aaron said, basically, that corporate political spending was good for democracy because “more information is better.”</p><p>While I agree that more information is better, that is not what political groups like Citizens United do. They spend their money in blatant attempts to distort facts to favor their side.</p><p>And every single one of these groups has an agenda.</p><p>More than $6 million dollars has already been spent by these groups from outside the state in an effort to defeat Kay Hagan. They are not presenting “facts” about Kay Hagan, but are doing their best to turn the electorate against her.</p><p>Do we really need outside groups spending millions to tell us what to think?</p><p>His comparison of outside election spending and lobbying is not valid. Lobbyists are trying to persuade elected officials to vote their way on legislation. Outside spending groups are trying to sway our votes that put those elected officials in office. Not the same thing.</p><p><em>Carole Repici</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>State deductions</h3>
<p>To the editor: I was having my taxes done for 2013, and my accountant stated that for 2014 there will be only three deductions for state income taxes, and they are home mortgage interest, charity and real estate taxes. There will be no other deductions such as medical, child care, plus all the deductions.</p><p>I just want everybody to be aware of what's happening.</p><p><em>John Thomas</em></p><p><em>Etowah</em></p><h3>Go unaffiliated</h3>
<p>To the editor: There are no intriguing statewide Democratic primaries this May and, because of the GOP's extreme and undemocratic gerrymandering,</p><p>Mark Meadows will retain his U.S. House District 11 seat in November. Democrat Kay Hagan will clearly win the U.S. Senate primary but just might get beaten by the Koch brothers' limitless money in the general election</p><p>If you're invested in a local Democratic primary, great, but other Democrats can decide to change their registration to unaffiliated right away, grab a GOP ballot in May, and vote for the goofiest, certain to lose, tea party rival for Hagan.</p><p><em>Lawrence Turk</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>